Apparatus for applying a coating to the edge of a cut piece of carpet



1967 LE ROY M. PENMAN 3,344,771

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A COATING TO THE EDGE OF A CUT PIECE OF CARPET Filed Jan. 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LEROY NI. PENMAN BY WW ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1967 LE oy PENMAN 3,344,771

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A COATING TO THE EDGE OF A CUT PIECE OF CARPET Filed Jan. 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HUME:

INVENTOR LEROY M. PENMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,344,771 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A COATING TO .THE EDGE OF A CUT PIECE OF CARPET Le Roy M. Penman, Bloomsburg, Pa., assignor to The Magee Carpet Company, Bloomsburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 611,360 8 Claims. (Cl. 118-200) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for applying plastic coating material to the cut edge of a rug to protect the same. The plastic coating material is pressed into the cut edge without soiling the face of the rug.

This invention relates to apparatus for applying a plastic coating to the cut edges of pieces of carpet to prevent raveling.

An apparatus for applying a plastic coating material to the edge of a cut piece of carpet wherein the piece of carpet is moved along the top of a table with the edge of the carpet held and guided into close contact with a spring blade that applies the coating material from the periphery of a supply wheel to the edge of the carpet and then moving the piece of carpet along the table with the coated edge in pressing engagement with a heated bowed portion of a spring strip whereby the coating material is fused and pressed into bonding engagement with the fabric.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for applying a plastic coating material to the cut edge of a piece of carpet having spring means for removing the coating material from a rotating supply wheel and applying it to the edge of the carpet.

A further object of the invention resides in providing means for guiding the piece of carpet into contact with the spring means while the coating material is being applied to the edge of the carpet.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a heated bowed spring plate for contacting engagement with the coated edge of the piece of carpet for fusing the coating material and pressing the material into tight bonding engagement with the fabric and at the same time smoothing the coating.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following specification:

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a section taken on lines 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section taken on lines 33 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a section taken on lines 44 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a section taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 2, and,

FIG. 6 is a section taken on lines 66 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the top of a table for supporting the pieces of carpet having at one side an adjustable section 6, so the top can be extended to support larger pieces of carpet. Extending along the opposite side of the table top is an angle bar 7 attached to the top by brackets 8 in spaced relation to the edge of the top, one flange of the bar being parallel to the edge and projecting above the table top to guide the pieces of carpet being moved along the table top. An applicator wheel 9 is rotatably mounted beneath the top of the table in parallel relation to the perpendicular flange of the angle bar 7 which is rotated by a suitable motor connected with the wheel by a variable speed unit. The periphery of the wheel 9 projects above the top of the table and upon rotation picks up a fluid plastic material, such 3,344,771 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 ice as Texmelt, from a reservoir disposed beneath the table. A spring blade 10 extending at an angle to the wheel is supported by spaced posts 11 mounted on a plate 12 disposed in the plane of the table top. The inner end of blade extends across the periphery of the wheel 9 and serves to remove the plastic material from the periphery of the wheel and apply the same to the edge of the piece of carpet being moved along the top of the table. A vertical post 13 having a laterally extending foot 14 at its lower end is mounted on the plate 12 with the foot slidably mounted in a bracket 15 to permit the post to be adjusted towards and from the wheel 9. A longitudinal slot 16 is formed in the outer face of the post 13 to slidably receive a bar 17 which is adjustable longitudinally of the post by an adjusting screw 18 attached to the upper end of the bar and having contact with the upper end of the post. A cross bar 19 is attached to the lower end of the bar 17 and rotatably mounted on each end of the cross bar is a guide roller 20 disposed above the piece of carpet and at an angle to cause the carpet to move inwardly against the perpendicular flange of the angle bar 7. Prongs 21 project from the periphery of the roller 20 to grip the pile of the carpet.

A Chromalox strip heater 22 is mounted on the inner side of the perpendicular flange of the angle bar 7 in spaced parallel relation thereto and disposed between the heater and flange is a spring metal strip 23 having an outwardly bowed portion 24, intermediate its ends, which projects through an opening in the flange of the angle bar into pressing engagement with the edge of the carpet. Heat from the heater 22 is conducted by radiation to the strip 23 and the bowed portion 24 causes the fluid plastic coating to penetrate into the fabric, at the same time smoothing the coating along the edge.

In operation, the pieces of carpet which may be of various sizes are placed on the top of the table 5 with the pile up and an edge parallel to the inner edge of the top. As the piece of carpet is moved along the table it passes beneath the guide rollers 20 which moves the carpet inwardly so that the edge of the carpet is pressed against the end of the spring blade 10 whereby the plastic material removed from the periphery of wheel 9 by the spring blade is pressed into the edge of the carpet. After the coating material is applied to the edge, the carpet is moved past the bowed portion 24 of strip 23 which fuses the coating material on the edge of the carpet and causes the material to penetrate into the fabric and at the same time smoothing the coating applied to the edge. Thus, it is seen cut pieces of carpet which are subject to raveling may have there edges coated with a plastic material which is securely bonded thereto to prevent raveling.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying a plastic coating to the edge of a cut piece of carpet comprising a table, means along one edge of said table for guiding the carpet along the edge of the table, a rotating wheel mounted parallel to the edge of the table adjacent the edge of the carpet adapted to pick-up a supply of coating material on its periphery, and a spring blade extending at an angle across the periphery of said wheel with its free end disposed for contact with the edge of said carpet whereby the blade removes the coating material from the periphery of said wheel and applies it to the edge of the carpet.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including a spring strip along the edge of said table in spaced relation to said wheel, said strip having contact with the edge of the carpet for pressing the coating applied to the edge of the carpet into the fabric and smoothing the same.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 including means for heating said spring strip.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including means for moving said carpet towards said rotating wheel as it moves along the top of the table.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said last means is a pair of spaced rollers disposed at an acute angle to the edge of said table above and in contact with the carpet for moving the carpet toward the edge of the table. V

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said rollers are mounted for vertical and horizontal adjustment.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including a pair of spaced rollers disposed above the carpet at an angle to the edge of said table for moving the carpet towards the edge of the table, a spring strip extending longitudinally of the edge of said table in spaced relation to said spring blade having bowed portion for contact with the coated edge of the carpet and means for heating said spring strip.

8. Apparatus as described-in claim 7 including means for vertically and horizontally adjusting said rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,792 6/1965 Labomarde 118101 X 776,150 11/1904 Smith 118101 X 1,140,602 5/ 1915 Lautenschlager. 2,264,047 11/ 1941 Pine. 2,326,249 8/ 1943 Nokes. 2,371,170 3/1946 Hill. 2,804,044 8/1957 Asbeck et a1. 118-241 X 3,040,347 6/1962 Paulsen 118410 X 3,107,182 10/1963 Anderson et a1. 118-252 3,185,130 5/1965 Pratt 118241 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLASTIC COATING TO THE EDGE OF A CUT PIECE OF CARPET COMPRISING A TABLE, MEANS ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID TABLE FOR GUIDING THE CARPET ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TABLE, A ROTATING WHEEL MOUNTED PARALLEL TO THE EDGE OF THE TABLE ADJACENT THE EDGE OF THE CARPET ADAPTED TO PICK-UP A SUPPLY OF COATING MATERIAL ON ITS PERIPHERY, AND A SPRING BLADE EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE ACROSS THE PERIPHERY OF SAID WHEEL WITH ITS FREE END DISPOSED FOR CONTACT WITH THE EDGE OF SAID CARPET WHEREBY THE BLADE REMOVES THE COATING MATERIAL FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID WHEEL AND APPLIES IT TO THE EDGE OF THE CARPET. 